Today we’d like to introduce you to Leandra Lee.
Leandra, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia. My grandmother raised me from the age of three because my mom was a junkie. My father’s presence was sporadic at best.
My childhood was a roller coaster. Ups, downs, twists, and turns, some were thrilling; like when I won an oratorical contest for the entire city. A lot of them were scary like having drug dealers trying to use my underage body to pay off debts she had accrued.
Having biological living, breathing, walking, taking parents that don’t care will demolish a child’s self-esteem and more.
I found love in a high school friend. I got pregnant at 16, had our daughter and was married by seventeen. By the age of 22, I was a mom of three and in an abusive marriage.
After infidelity and children born outside our marriage, I had to leave. I went home to grandma to rebuild. Which I did.
I joined the army as a combat medic at the age of 27. I was the second woman ever to infiltrate a field artillery unit. I was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany a part of 1/7 FA.
For the first time in life, I felt valuable. Unfortunately, the feeling was short-lived. One evening I was invited out by fellow soldiers and the wife of one of my battle buddies. As the night came to an end, I noticed I was really tired. I kept dozing off. When we arrived at the barracks, I needed an escort to my room. One of my NCOs took on the task. What happened next changed my life!
I don’t want to go too far in detail but we went out Saturday night and by Monday morning, my room was being searched by CID. I had been raped and drugged.
I took a medical retirement after realizing I was terrified to leave home. If my orders couldn’t be Ft. Gordon, GA permanently, I was not going.
My family and I moved to Atlanta, I was an actual hermit because it was a new city. I stayed in the house unless accompanied by family. It wasn’t until four years later that I started managing my first solo artist that I became able to break out.
Once I saw how I was perceived and received by everyone at different levels in their quest to be an entertainer I knew I had to do something.
My life partner has a business degree and I have the gift of gab and an inviting spirit. So, we decided to help indie artists obtain their dream. We do all free showcases with free raw and edited footage of performances.
I recently did a video shoot in which I was a model. I met a young lady there that told me about background work for movies and t.v. I jumped right in headfirst. I was booked over and over.
Now, I am currently shooting a reality show with Yung Joc and it’s going to be HOT! I have had the pleasure of meeting some BIG names like Clint Eastwood, an amazing new talent Lilian Lee who gave me my first speaking role in Sweethearts, coming soon to a screen near you.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely is smoother than I would have imagined but the obstacles I’ve encountered… it’s sad to say but they have all been because of someone’s ego. How ridiculous is that? I’ve had mentors lie, try and get my ill na na and more. I’ve been blocked on social media by two “boss bi**hes”. I say if you’re so awesome at what you do, and you have the personal relationships you claim you do, sh** why are you so bothered by little old me?
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about T&L ENTERTAINMENT – what should we know?
T&L Entertainment is a company built and ran by vets who believe in “…no man left behind”. We do it all from management to graphics to PR. We are most proud that we are not taking advantage of any indie artist. That is exactly what sets us apart from the others, especially here in Atlanta.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe that being a nurturer by nature is super vital to my success. People can feel VIBES and energy (INNERG). I can’t help but want the best for any and everyone. That characteristic has always made people flock to me and feel free opening up to me. That’s one of the reasons I have a bachelor’s in psychology. My philosophy is ” only the crazy can help the crazy.” I don’t mean clinically diagnosed with a mental illness , I simply mean crazy different, outside of the box . That has always been vital in my success .
Contact Info:
- Website: www.levelup18.com
- Email: levelingup18@gmail.com
- Instagram: @uncontainablerecords @Piscesbabii @darealtbm121
Image Credit:
James Shackleford
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